I was in east Tennessee/western North Carolina last week (Which was it?... Both in fact. I was hiking a portion of the Appalachian Trail, which straddles both states, in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park.)
It was pleasing to notice the wildflowers blooming as we started our ascent in the 4000' elevation range. Blooming were white trilliums, solomon's seal, false solomon's seal, some small yellow lilies that I couldn't identify. I thought it interesting that these were just blooming, as they peaked in Nashville area late April/early May. Several weeks difference .
Microclimates As far as I can tell this area of the mountains is zoned 7a, so it is not much different than our 6b. But at 4000-5000' or more in elevation, in the mountains, the understory is a lot cooler as well. Nashville peaks at around 1100 feet.
Driving into the area, around 2000' we saw plenty of Rhododendrons blooming, but up in the mountains the rhodies were just showing buds. I did find this one beauty...it had a lot of western exposure and was growing quite near a large rock which probably reflected back some heat.
We can consider microclimates in our own yards and plantings: sunnier areas, reflected heat from patios, sheltered areas, extra dense shade. These all will create variations in the growth and bloom of your plants. Even the cool spring we had was noticeable here in Nashville. My butterfly weed (Asclepias tuberosa), always late to emerge, was slow in gaining height. Despite the rain. But two weeks of rising temps and a few days into the 90s... and it grew monstrous and today, first of June, is about to bloom.
A few more mountain plants: at lower elevations we also saw plenty of mountain laurel,Carolina allspice, and an umbrella magnolia in bloom. And just for fun, here is a doghobble bush in bloom (aka fetterbush, aka Leucothoe).
A final detour on our trip was a visit to the Joyce Kilmer National Forest, a tract of old growth timber (unlogged since Europeans arrived, and protected since 1936). Go see this, in person. It's an easy walk from the parking area to see Tulip poplars (Liriodedron tulipfera) over 400 years old., 15 to 20 feet in girth. There's nothing to compare with experiencing old forest like this with your own five senses. You don't have to go to the west coast to see living giants.
http://www.main.nc.us/graham/hiking/joycekil.html
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